Project overview
Located on the Winnipeg River, Pointe du Bois is our oldest hydroelectric generating station.
As our oldest hydroelectric station, many of the electrical, civil and mechanical works at Pointe du Bois generating station are more than a century old.
The Pointe du Bois renewable energy project (PREP) is made up of two main parts: a generating unit replacement in the station’s powerhouse and the construction of a new transmission line in the area.
The work in the generating station is to install eight new generating units at Pointe du Bois to replace some of the original units that are nearing end of life.
A generating unit is made up of a turbine and generator. Water from the river enters the powerhouse and flows through the turbine, causing the generator to spin to create electricity. This upgrade will extend the operable life of the station to at least 2055. With 380 gigawatt-hours per year, on average, of added production capacity, we will be able to power an extra 35,000 homes in Manitoba.
Our existing license for the generating station dictates a maximum water level on the upstream side of the generating station. The planned upgrades are intended to return the station closer to its full generating capacity. These upgrades will not exceed any limits or requirements outlined in the Water Power Act license for Pointe du Bois generating station.
New transmission line from Pointe du Bois to Whiteshell station (PW75)
A map of the final preferred route for the Pointe du Bois to Whiteshell transmission line.
The current transmission lines connecting Pointe du Bois to our grid are aging and won’t have enough capacity to handle the station’s increased electricity output once the new generating units are in place.
We’re planning to build a new 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line (referred to as PW75), stretching about 51 kilometres between Pointe du Bois and the existing Whiteshell station, to improve reliability for our customers in surrounding areas. This component of the project will require a Class 2 license under The Environment Act (Manitoba).
The new 115-kV transmission line from Pointe du Bois to Lee River distribution supply centre (DSC) will be routed through an existing right-of-way currently occupied by a 66-kV transmission line. The existing right-of-way will be widened to accommodate the higher voltage line, and the 66-kV line, which connects Pointe du Bois to Winnipeg, is nearing end of life and will be decommissioned.
A new right-of-way will be required for the section of the new transmission line between Lee River DSC and Whiteshell station. Various other upgrades are also planned at Pointe du Bois station and Whiteshell station to accommodate this transmission work.
How to participate
We thank everyone who provided their feedback and participated in the engagement process for this project. While our formal engagement process to inform the environmental assessment has ended, we remain open and responsive to any questions or concerns that may arise through the project's construction and operation. The project webpage will continue to be updated as the project progresses through the regulatory review process and project construction.
Timeline
Generating unit replacement:
- preliminary worksite and equipment preparation: fall 2022
- removal of old generating units: spring 2023 – spring 2024
- new generating unit assembly and installation: ongoing until summer 2027
New transmission line
- identify and evaluate alternative route segments: spring 2022 – fall 2022
- preferred route engagement: winter 2023
- file environmental assessment report for regulatory review: summer 2023
- licensing decision: estimated summer 2025
- transmission line construction start, if licence approved: winter 2025/26
- target in-service date: summer 2027
This timeline is subject to change.
Updates
Accommodation database for project construction
January 2024
Our staff and contractors that are working on PREP are looking for accommodations in the project area during construction. If you have a property in the area that you would be willing to rent (seasonally or year-round) to our staff and/or contractors, fill out the PREP Rental Accommodation Registration form (PDF, 381 KB) and email it to projects@hydro.mb.ca.
Environmental assessment report filed
July 2023
We submitted our environmental assessment report to Manitoba Environment and Climate for regulatory review in July 2023. Read the environmental assessment report here:
- PW75 environmental assessment report – main report (PDF, 19.4 MB)
- PW75 environmental assessment report – Appendices A-G (PDF, 27.3 MB)
- PW75 environmental assessment report – Appendices H-J (PDF, 27.8 MB)
Resources
Additional information on the project is available from these resources:
Round 1 engagement
- PREP information sheet – Round 1 (PDF, 846 KB)
- PREP postcard – Round 1 (PDF, 330 KB)
- PREP: PW75 Transmission line index map of alternative route segments (PDF, 545 KB)
- PREP: PW75 Transmission line alternative route segments maps (PDF, 24.9 MB)
Round 2 engagement
- PREP: PW75 preferred route detailed map (PDF, 4.3 MB)
- PREP: PW75 preferred route mapbook index map (PDF, 4.3 MB)
- PREP: PW75 preferred route mapbook (PDF, 12 MB)
Maps
- PREP: PW75 final preferred route detailed map (PDF, 215 KB)
- PREP: PW75 final preferred route mapbook (PDF, 9 MB)
GIS data – project alternative route segments for download
This zip file contains spatial files in ESRI Shapefile format of the project infrastructure. They are viewable using geographic information system software. We recommend extracting the files to your computer, rather than opening them online. The .kml file will allow you to view the route(s) with software such as Google Earth®.
- PW75 final preferred route (Zip file, 4 KB)
- PW75 preferred route (Zip file, 18 KB)
- PW75 alternative route segments – Round 1 (Zip file, 12 KB)